Smoking habit does not differentiate young patients with first diagnosed and never treated hypertensive disease regarding blood pressure levels and hypertension mediated organ damage

Abstract

Abstract Background Early onset hypertension is associated with a considerably greater risk for CVD mortality compared with hypertension that begins later in life. Aim of this study is the evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CV) factors and hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) in young patients with first diagnosed and never treated hypertensive disease regarding smoking habit. Methods From a cohort of 520 non-diabetic and first diagnosed and never treated hypertensive patients, we studied those patients aged <50 years (n=216, age=42±7, 149 males). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM), cardiovascular risk factors [smoking, obesity (BMI), hyperlipidemia (HDL-C, LDL-C)] and HOMD [aortic stiffness (PWV), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (E/Ea), cardiac hypertrophy (LVMI), coronary arteries microcirculation (CFR), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), endothelial function (PBR5–25)] were estimated in each young patient before treatment initiation. Results Young patients' population was divided regarding smoking habit in Group A (smokers, n=89, age=42±7, 64 males) and Group B (non-smokers, n=127, age=42±6, 85 males). While increased LDL-C (p=0.002), decreased HDL-C levels (p<0.001) and augmented 24-h systolic and diastolic BP variability (p=0.001 and p=0.03, respectively) were revealed in Group A, no other differences were found between groups regarding BMI, 24-h ABPM and HMOD. Conclusion In early phases of arterial hypertension disease, young people have similar BP and HMOD burden despite the pre-existence of smoking habit and hyperlipidemia. Subsequently, there is still time for combined treatment of these three risk factors (smoking, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension) and prevention of future CV adverse events. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Young hypertensives and smoking